Project photo: DELANA's custom-home kitchen at 1561 Inglewood, West Vancouver. The condo cost examples below describe separate work.
By Jim Lazos, owner of DELANA Interiors ·
Our condo renovation cost examples start at approximately $12,000 for a standard three-piece bathroom and $25,000–$35,000 for a kitchen. Those are different work scopes, rather than prices for a complete condo renovation.
Our October 2026 examples use a 1,500 sq ft condo as the setting. For this example, the condo kitchen renovation cost excludes buying appliances. Your written quote should state whether drawings, permits, building charges and tax are included.
Quick summary
- $25,000–$35,000: Our kitchen example includes cabinets, countertops, sink, faucets, backsplash, lighting, tile flooring and paint.
- Approximately $6,500: his separate appliance-buying example, depending on make and model; the owner normally supplies them.
- Approximately $12,000: a standard three-piece bathroom, rising to around $20,000 with higher-end choices.
- About two weeks for a bathroom and three weeks for a kitchen: work durations when materials and trades are ready.
- Three weeks to a month, sometimes longer: Our strata-approval experience; preparation and City permits require separate planning.
In two units near Guildford Centre, we found there was no separate main water shutoff for either home. Shutting off the water for plumbing work would affect other homes too.
We check the building first. Your Vancouver condo budget needs to account for both the work you want and the building’s restrictions.
How much does a condo renovation cost in Vancouver?
Our examples range from approximately $12,000 for a standard three-piece bathroom to $25,000–$35,000 for a kitchen. Painting and replacing flooring throughout the condo is another combined scope. Agree those details in writing.
These are our planning examples for work in a 1,500 sq ft condo. That means the entire unit. These are scope examples, not a fixed price list or a complete renovation total.
| Work scope | Our approximate example | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen renovation | $25,000–$35,000 | New cabinets, sink and faucets, countertops, backsplash, LED pot lighting, ceramic-tile floor and paint |
| Standard three-piece bathroom | Around $12,000 | Average-standard materials, fixtures and finishes |
| Higher-end three-piece bathroom | Around $20,000 | Higher-grade finishes and fixtures |
| Painting and flooring throughout | Around $15,000 | Laminate flooring and one-colour latex paint |
| Painting and flooring throughout, upgraded finishes | Low $20,000s | Engineered wood and higher-grade paints |
Confirm what is outside each price. Your quote should say whether professional drawings, engineering, permits, strata-related charges and tax are included.
Avoid double-counting. These examples may overlap.
For kitchens, the owner normally buys the appliances and we install them. We estimate around $6,500 to buy appliances, depending on make and model. Decide which appliances you are keeping before cabinet sizes and connections are settled.
Our kitchen renovation cost Vancouver guide and bathroom renovation cost Vancouver guide cover wider room choices. The figures here refer specifically to our condo examples, so compare the listed work before comparing prices.
Keep refundable security separate from final costs. Confirm the actual building requirements.
What changes a condo renovation quote?
Your scope, finish choices and building restrictions all affect the quote. Moving plumbing, changing an agreed design or choosing more expensive products adds work or material costs. Elevator access and permitted work hours affect how that work can be scheduled.
Settle cabinetry early. Keep the layout if it works, and choose the appliances before finalising cabinets. Discuss custom millwork Vancouver when standard cabinet sizes cannot meet the design, rather than assuming every kitchen needs custom pieces.
Compare equivalent finishes. Our lower example pairs laminate with one-colour latex paint. Our higher example uses engineered wood and different paint types for ceilings, walls, kitchen/bathroom walls and trim.
An assessment by a flooring contractor Vancouver homeowners hire should confirm what needs replacing and the building’s requirements. Both affect the price.
Is condo renovation cost per square foot a reliable starting point?
A square-foot figure is only useful when its scope is clear. A kitchen-and-bathroom project and a full interior renovation can have the same unit size and very different costs. Dividing one room’s price by the entire condo’s area gives a misleading comparison.
Our examples do not establish a full-condo rate per square foot. List what you need. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association recommends comparing quotes based on the same design and specifications.
What strata approval and City permits do you need before work starts?
Check your building’s bylaws and the City’s requirements before scheduling the work. Strata approval addresses alterations and conditions within the building. Municipal permits address the proposed construction and trade work. Check both.
We first read the building’s rules, then prepare drawings and a written description of the work that follows those rules. We supply strata with insurance and workers’ compensation information, along with the work schedule. Required documents still depend on the building and the project.
BC’s Standard Bylaws describe alterations that require written approval. Buildings can have different filed bylaws, so check the actual bylaws applying to your strata.
In the City of Vancouver, moving walls or service lines can require permits. Painting and replacing cabinets are listed differently in the City’s renovation permit guide. Those municipal distinctions do not remove your obligation to check the building’s rules.
For a bathroom, also review the bathroom renovation permit Vancouver guide. Plumbing and electrical requirements depend on the work, including what is moved or changed.
How long can approvals take?
In our experience, strata approval takes three weeks to one month, sometimes longer. Drawings take time. A distant meeting date, requested revisions or unresolved building issues can extend the wait for a decision.
In a Maple Ridge condo project, we started plans and application work in August 2026. As of October 20, 2026, we were still waiting for an answer.
This was our experience. Your wait may differ.
City timelines vary too. Our experience in Burnaby is at least two months from drafting, sometimes three or four. That includes preparation and must not be treated as Vancouver’s permit-processing time.
- Check the building bylaws and obtain required strata approval.
- Confirm and obtain the City permits required for the agreed work.
One approval does not replace the other. Timing depends on the actual application.
What hidden building problems should you check before accepting a quote?
Check how water can be shut off, the unit’s electrical panel, sprinkler arrangements and unresolved building damage. These conditions can affect the work before finishes are chosen. A site visit and building information help establish what the contractor can reasonably include in the quote.
From our projects: the missing water shutoff. In the units near Guildford Centre, stopping the water supply would affect other homes. We used a specialist pipe-freezing method to carry out plumbing work. It added difficulty and cost to jobs that could otherwise look straightforward.
Ask how water to your unit will be shut off before work is priced. Check the rules for water interruptions with building management. Arrange specialist work first.
Check sprinklers early too. We check with the company maintaining the building’s system and reports concerns to the owner and strata. Renovation workers should not simply move or alter sprinkler heads because they interfere with a new finish.
We also encountered long-running roof leaks in that building. Work in two neighbouring units was interrupted while exterior repairs were arranged. By our return, the long delay had changed the cost of completing the original agreement.
Address active leaks first. Agree on delay provisions. Responsibility for repairs needs checking against the actual situation and strata documents.
Before disturbing materials, include the necessary hazardous-material assessment in the preparation. WorkSafeBC advises homeowners to arrange asbestos testing before renovation or demolition. A building’s age alone does not establish what a particular material contains.
How long does construction take when the job is ready to start?
We estimate about two weeks of work for a bathroom and three weeks for a kitchen, with preparation completed. Flooring throughout a condo may take four to five days; painting may take three to four. These are work durations, not a combined project calendar.
| Work | Our approximate work duration | Conditions to settle first |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom renovation | Two weeks | Fixtures, vanity, materials and trades ready |
| Kitchen renovation | Three weeks | Cabinets, appliances, finishes and trade schedule settled |
| Replace flooring throughout | Four to five days | Materials, access and building requirements confirmed |
| Paint throughout | Three to four days | Paint choices, access and work sequence settled |
Materials and organisation come first. These work durations assume cabinets, vanities, fixtures, faucets and finishing supplies have been ordered ahead and are available when work begins. Trades must also be hired, prepared and given the schedule.
Write a doable daily schedule. Elevator delivery windows must fit that schedule.
Restricted work hours, holidays and weekend rules can reduce available time. Confirm permitted hours.
For kitchen renovation Vancouver or bathroom renovation Vancouver work, confirm which stage the promised duration covers. Preparation, approvals, manufacturing and construction are different stages. Some work overlaps, so adding the table rows will not produce a reliable finish date.
- Settle the scope, required approvals and building access.
- Have the needed materials ready and trades booked.
- Follow the written daily work schedule.
These room durations describe work on site, not the entire approval-to-completion period.
What should your written quote settle before you start?
Your quote should list the work, products, exclusions and who handles each task. List what must be ready. Set a written process for agreeing and pricing changes.
For a condo, include the building arrangements that affect access, deliveries and the daily schedule.
Before accepting, check:
- Rooms and work: list what is being removed, retained and installed.
- Products: identify cabinets, flooring, fixtures, finishes and any allowances still awaiting a selection.
- Owner purchases: confirm who buys appliances and who installs them.
- Professional work and permits: state who prepares drawings, engages engineers, applies and pays.
- Building charges: identify actual fees and any refundable deposit separately, with its refund conditions.
- Tax and exclusions: say whether tax is included and list work outside the price.
- Schedule: confirm approval status, material readiness, work hours and delivery bookings.
- Changes: agree the process for new work, concealed problems or a changed design.
CHBA explains how written change orders record changes to the work and price. Put decisions in writing.
Stay with the agreed scope. Owner-requested design changes and more expensive selections can raise costs. Discuss changes against that contract.
Use our renovation quotes Vancouver guide to compare written quotes. If you’re ready to plan the work, our condo renovation Vancouver service includes coordination with the building.
Compare the amounts in your written quote
Enter prices you have received. This adds your figures; it does not estimate construction costs. Leave an unknown amount blank.
Download the condo renovation quote checklist, or open a printable copy.
Frequently asked questions about condo renovation costs in Vancouver
Can you renovate a bathroom in a condo?
Yes, subject to the work being suitable for the unit and the required approvals. Check the building’s bylaws, plumbing arrangements and any municipal requirements first. Jim’s condo bathroom renovation cost examples depend on the fixtures and finishes agreed for that bathroom.
Are appliances included in a condo kitchen renovation?
In our example, the owner normally buys appliances and the contractor installs them. Our separate appliance-buying estimate is around $6,500, depending on make and model. Your written quote should confirm this arrangement and any installation work included.
Does strata approval replace a City permit?
No. Strata approval and City permits concern different requirements. Check both against the actual Vancouver renovation scope before work starts.
Can strata approval take longer than one month?
Yes. We have experienced longer waits, including applications needing revisions or waiting for decisions. Ask about the next review date and what information is needed, rather than treating one month as a promised deadline.
Why should you order materials before demolition?
Missing cabinets, fixtures or finishes can interrupt the daily work schedule. These short construction durations depend on preparation and materials being ready. Confirm deliveries and trade availability.
Can changing the scope change the agreed price?
Yes. A new design, additional work or a more expensive product can change the price.
Record changes before proceeding. Include the agreed cost and schedule effect.
Would you like a detailed quote for your condo?
Bring your planned changes and the building's renovation requirements to a free in-home consultation. We will review the work and what the written quote needs to cover.
DELANA Interiors
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